United’s minority owner, Sir Jim Ratcliffe, has remarked on how Erik ten Hag, described as a “good guy,” found himself overwhelmed with responsibilities, nearly losing his job earlier this summer. Ratcliffe noted that the high turnover of managers since Alex Ferguson’s departure in 2013 points to issues at the senior level of the club. He emphasized that the exits of Ferguson and former managing director David Gill created a “vacuum” beneath the Glazer family’s ownership.
Ratcliffe told The Times: “Erik is a good guy who’s been trying his best but is overloaded. He was juggling squad issues with other challenges.”
Regarding the club’s decline, he said: “When Ferguson and Gill left 11 years ago, they were managing the sports side of the club effectively, while the Glazers handled the commercial side. The sudden absence of their leadership created a void.”
He further stated that the club has “clearly lost its way,” noting that over the past decade, Manchester United should have been a consistent contender for Premier League and Champions League titles but has fallen short. “It’s a major task to bring the club back to its rightful place. It should be among the top eight in Europe, and if we can’t achieve that, we won’t have succeeded.”
Ratcliffe is determined to restore United to their former prominence, though there’s a long road ahead. The club has been active in the transfer market, aiming to be strategic and avoid overpaying for players like Joao Neves and Manuel Ugarte. Fans will likely appreciate the more engaged leadership compared to the distant Glazer family.
Manchester United, who recently lost on penalties to Manchester City in the Community Shield, will next face Fulham at Old Trafford as the Premier League season kicks off on Friday night.
